Detachable top lift for shoes



April 4, 19 67 J, FR MAN 3,312,000

DETACHABLE TOP LIFT FOR SHOES Filed Dec. 21, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l llaEN TOR.

JOSEPH EEDMAN April 4, 1967 J. FREEDMAN 3,312,000

DETACHABLE TOP LIFT FOR SHOES Filed Dec. 21, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. JOSEPH FREEDMAN /2; TORNE Y. 1,-1

United States Patent 3,312,000 DETACHABLE TOP LIFT FOR SHOES JosephFreedman, Chelsea, Mass, assignor to Boston Toplift & Cut Sole Company,Inc., South Boston, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Dec. 21,1964, Ser. No. 419,759 2 Claims. (Cl. 3634) This invention relates to adetachable top lift for shoes and more particularly, to a lift ofimproved strength.

In the manufacture of ladies high heel shoes, the attachment of the toplift to the heel has undergone a radical change. This has beenoccasioned by the introduction in recent years of an extremely narrowand elongated heel. Where formerly the general practice was to simplyattach the heel by a number of nails, the extremely small cross sectionof the so-called spike heel resulted in the adoption of a singleelongated nail which served both to stiffen the heel itself and attachthe lift.

The concept of having a shaft in the heel to which the lift is attachedis not new. Gentile, US. 1,762,170 and US. 1,844,248, and Fitzsimmons,US. 1,947,849, disclose a metal shank disposed in the heel and having aclaw end for attachment to the detachable lift. Monfils, US. 1,949,940,Gentile, US. 2,070,229, and Critchley, US. 2,111,314, show variousmodifications of this concept. Thus, US. 2,111,314 discloses a socket inthe heel in which a post is embedded with its bottom claws engaging thelift, and permits the withdrawal of the top lift and attached post whendesired for substitution of a new top lift. Hoffmann, US. 2,656,621, issimilar.

Marino, US. 2,798,313, discloses a top lift whose post was bent toacquire better holding in the socket and whose lift is secured by claws.Whitted, US. 2,923,071, shows a molded plastic lift having an integralpost extension, with fillets and grooves. Trela, U.S. 2,937,461,discloses a plastic lift molded on to the head of a nail-like membermade of metal, the post portion having protuberances for positioning inan unlined axial bore. Whitted, US. 3,040,- 452, also discloses aplastic lift molded on the head of a nail-like structure made of metal.

The detachable top lifts described in the prior art have generally beenmore expensive than desired and have often lacked the strength required,particularly where the lift itself is of very small cross sectionalarea.

One object of this invention is to .provide a relatively inexpensivedetachable top lift of improved strength.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent fromthe specification and claims which follow, taken together with thedrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a detachable lift made in accordance with thisinvention and showing a plastic lift molded on to the head portion of anail-like structure.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross section of the head portion showing theinterfitting of the 'metal and plastic.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top view wit-h the plastic top lift being shown inphantom.

FIG. 4 is an elevation, enlarged, of the head section, with a portion ofthe plastic removed to show the window of the metal frame of the head.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevation of the head section.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the metal portion of another embodimentof this invention.

FIG. 7 is a section through line 77 of FIG. 6.

The inveniton comprises generally a metal member having a shaft sectionfor engaging the heel of a shoe and a head section of special design onwhich a lift made of resilient material can be molded. The head sectionis characterized in that it comprises a substantially flat end portionmounted on the end of said shaft section. Perforations can be provided,if desired, in the part of the flat end not joined to the shaft.Extending from said end portion is a rearward projection provided withan aperture. When the lift is molded on to the head section, theresilient material of the lift extends through the aperture so as tosubstantially fill the space formed by the projection, shaft and endportion.

Although a single rearward projection provided with an aperture can beused, it is preferred that multiple uniformly spaced projections or asingle uniformly disposed projection be used to assure stability. Thus,a single peripheral rearwardly depending apertur'ed flange can be usedhaving one or more apertures. Also, a plurality of peripheral rearwardlydepending apertured flanges in uniformly spaced position may be used. Inone embodiment illustrated in the drawings, a single rearwardlydepending flange extends along the entire periphery of the end por tionand has a pair of oppositely spaced notches and a pair of oppositelyspaced apertures with the resultant effect of an opposing pair ofdepending flanges with apertures. In another embodiment illustrated inthe drawings, the depending peripheral flanges have a second inward bendso that the ends are adjacent to the shaft.

The shaft preferably has a slight undercut below the endline of theprojection to aid in retention of the molded lift. The surface of theshaft is variable in accordance with the particular heel for which it isintended. Thus, some shafts may have a roughened, corrugated or serratedsurface while others may be smooth. The resilient material for forming alift includes generally any plastic or rubbery material which can beformed or molded so as to penetrate and surround the head section of ametal member. Such material should have the appropriate flexibility andwear resistance for use as a lift as well as the capability of forming asufliciently effective bond with the metal surfaces it engages. Thus,nylon and polyurethane are commonly used materials in making lifts.However, because of the unique head structure of the metal nail member,variations in the physical properties of the plastic lift material willnormally not affect the lock and bond between the resilient. liftmaterial and the nail member.

It is a feature of this invention that the shaft does not require anyspecial serrations or corrugations as required by the prior art devices.However, the resilient lift portion appears to be bonded in an improvedmanner as compared with the previously described detachable plastic toplifts.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 5, the embodiment illustrated thereincomprises a metal nail-like member 10 having an elongated shaft 11 forinsertion lengthwise into a shoe heel and a head portion 12 around whichis molded a plastic lift 18. The shaft 11 has an undercut 11a and tapersslightly in section 1112 until it joins the flat end portion 13 of thehead. Depending from the head portion 13 in the direction of the shaftis a flange composed of sections 14 and 15 separated by notches 16 and17 and containing apertures 14a and 15a, respectively. The unitary massof plastic material 18 is shown surrounding the head portion and part ofthe shaft portion, extending through the apertures 14a and 15a into theannular section formed by the flange and the tapering portion 11b of theshaft. i

The embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7 cornprises a metalnail-like member 20 having a shaft section 21 connected to a headsection 22. The shaft is provided with an undercut 21a to facilitatemolding and also has a top portion 21b terminating in the top flatportion 23 of the head. On the periphery of the end portion 23 aredepending flanges 24, 25 and 26 having longitudinal portions 24a, 25aand 26a, each provided with apertures 24b, 25b and 26b and bent intransverse portions 240, 25c and 26c terminating adjacent the shaft 21b.When this embodiment is surrounded by resilient lift material, thematerial extends through the apertures and substantially fills the spaceformed by the flanges, shaft and head portion. (The fourth flange,oppoiste 25, is not visible, but is of similar construction.)

While several preferred embodiments of this invention have beendescribed in detail, the invention is not limited to the particularconstruction set forth. Thus, although the head end portion as describedand illustrated above is shown as substantially flat, such flatness,although preferable, because of its greater stability and freedom fromrocking, is not required. A head end portion which is curved orirregular or of other non-flat construction, would still be within thescope of this invention.

1 claim:

1. A metal member adapted for making a detachable top lift for theheelof a shoe comprising: a shaft section, an enlarged tapering collarportion, said collar portion terminating in a substantially flat headportion secured to the end of the shaft section; said head having aplurality of peripheral spaced flange elements whose ends are bentinward adjacent the tapering portion; said flange elements havingaperture therein.

2. A detachable top lift for the heel of a shoe comprising a metalmember made in accordance with claim 1 and a resilient lift membermolded around the end of said metal member having its resilient materialsurrounding the head and collar and extending through the apertures tosubstantially fill the space formed by the flange elements, head andshaft.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,040,452 6/1962Whitted 36-34 3,041,744 7/1962 Brauner 36-34 3,055,125 9/1962 Ronci 36343,074,186 1/1963 Gudermuth 36--34 3,119,192 1/1964 Ronci 36-34 3,178,8354/1965 Burke et al. 36-34 20 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

A. R. GUEST, Examiner.

1. A METAL MEMBER ADAPTED FOR MAKING A DETACHABLE TOP LIFT FOR THE HEELOF A SHOE COMPRISING: A SHAFT SECTION, AN ENLARGED TAPERING COLLARPORTION, SAID COLLAR PORTION TERMINATING IN A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT HEADPORTION SECURED TO THE END OF THE SHAFT SECTION; SAID HEAD HAVING APLURALITY OF PERIPHERAL SPACED FLANGE ELEMENTS WHOSE ENDS ARE BENTINWARD ADJACENT THE TAPERING PORTION; SAID FLANGE ELEMENTS HAVINGAPERTURE THEREIN.